Question

I’m searching for a function (perhaps there is one in the .Net-Framework) which I can use to validate C#-syntax. It can also be a c# parser with build-in validation.

Background: I’m building a little Code-Generator where the user can enter some definitions and gets back full implemented properties etc., but I want to check if the user entered correct C# and if the result is correct, too.

Edit:

I don’t want to compile the code, and it could be uncomplete code. So that for example the User could enter a code-snippet with classes from his code, I don’t know, and I only want to validate the syntax, not the ‘content’

Examples

Input:

Car car = new Car();
car.drive("50");

Output:

Same as input, because it's valid and nothing to do.

Input:

Car car = new Car()
car.drive("50");

Output:

Message that it is not valid, beause of missing ';'

etc.

I don’t know the class Car and therefore I can’t compile it, I only want to check the syntax.

Answer 1

How to programatically compile code using the C# compiler:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304655

..it validates as a part of the compilation process. You can get the list of errors like this (from the article..surprising since it’s a bit messy):

foreach(CompilerError CompErr in results.Errors)
{
 textBox2.Text = textBox2.Text +
     "Line number " + CompErr.Line + 
     ", Error Number: " + CompErr.ErrorNumber + 
     ", '" + CompErr.ErrorText + ";" + 
     Environment.NewLine + Environment.NewLine;
}